In this Section

The Power of Navigation

When Cheryl Halverson was diagnosed with breast cancer, she was shocked
and scared.

Fortunately, she had Peggy Long, her Nurse Navigator, by her side every
step of the way, at every appointment. Cheryl says she wouldn’t have
been able to get through her cancer treatment without Peggy’s endless
support and encouragement.

While Columbia St. Mary’s Breast Health Program certainly utilizes the
latest treatment options, we pride ourselves on our incredible team of
Nurse Navigators who provide essential support and help create a warm
and nurturing environment for all our patients.

These compassionate caregivers are a shining example of Columbia
St. Mary’s Passion for Patient Care, and they will be the focus of this
year's Columbia St. Mary’s Foundation’s A Passion for Fashion
Luncheon and Fashion Show. All proceeds will go toward Columbia
St. Mary’s Breast Health Program, including the recruitment and training
of additional Nurse Navigators.

These nurses have a profound impact on the lives of countless patients
every single day – patients just like Cheryl.

Cheryl first discovered the lump in her breast in early October 2012
while performing a routine self-checkup. Initially, she didn’t think
much of it. She had always been healthy – she was only 42 years old, had
spent most of her life running marathons, triathlons and working out,
and had no family history of cancer.

“I really thought I was the picture of health,” she says, “so I was
pretty shocked by the diagnosis.”

With a background in market research, Cheryl immediately put her
analytical mind to work. She talked to friends who had successfully
battled breast cancer. She scoured the Internet. She sought out second
and third opinions. She learned as much as she could so she was
confident she was making the right decisions.

“I went to Froedtert and then I traveled out to Sloan-Kettering in New
York,” she says. “I felt that as a 42-year-old with two young kids,
especially my little girl, I needed to do all I could to fight this
battle and beat it so that it would never come back.”

When the additional opinions came back with the same diagnosis and
treatment plan as Columbia St. Mary’s did, Cheryl’s decision ultimately
came down to relationships and comfort.

“I had great faith in Dr. Alysandra Lal and Dr. Ranveer Nand, but also
Peggy Long,” she says. “They didn't just treat me medically, but they
supported me from an emotional standpoint as well, whereas if I went to
a different hospital, I'd just be a number. I felt really at home and at
peace.”

Peggy, especially, helped foster that warm and caring
environment. She was by Cheryl’s side during the entire process,
explaining her diagnosis and treatment plan, answering any and all
questions, scheduling all of her appointments and lending emotional
support.

"I don't think I could have gotten
through it without her," says Cheryl
(right) of her Nurse
Navigator, Peggy Long (left).

“At first I thought, 'Okay, Peggy is going to be there to navigate my
appointments.' But then it became, 'Okay, Peggy is going to answer my
questions. And then Peggy is going to support me emotionally,'” Cheryl
says. “And every time I was here, somehow Peggy showed up by my side,
held my hand, cheered me on, and reassured me. So she became a really
integral part of the overall treatment program. ”

Currently, Columbia St. Mary’s employs five Nurse Navigators, three of
whom work with breast cancer patients. These remarkable nurses oversee
the care of hundreds of cancer patients every year. They’re someone to
talk to, a shoulder to cry on, a source of hope. And while they all do
an incredible job, we could use more to serve our growing number of
patients.

Enhancing our Nurse Navigator Program will be the primary focus
of Columbia St. Mary’s Foundation's 2014 A Passion for Fashion
Luncheon and Fashion Show.

This year's show will take place on Tuesday, April 8 at the
historic Pfister Hotel and will once again feature some of the best
looks from Bruce Paul Goodman, The Fashionable Clothier. This
event has raised more than $433,000 for our Breast Health Programs, and
this success is due to our generous and loyal sponsors.

Columbia St. Mary’s has long been defined by our Passion For Patient
Care. And when it comes to our Breast Health Programs, that means a
passion for personal, individualized treatment for each patient. A
passion for the latest technologies and innovative care. A passion for
alternative therapies and a multidisciplinary team of caregivers. A
passion for turning patients into survivors.

Thank you for supporting our mission and for making a real difference in
the lives of women throughout southeastern Wisconsin.